Fish and bait trap

ABSTRACT

A floating fish and bait trap assembly having a cylindrical cage within which fish may live when trapped therein. A shelter having spaced floats thereon is superimposed over the cage in journaled relationship therewith to enable the cage to be rotated relative to the shelter, and further to protect the cage from the elements. A yoke is attached to and depends away from the journal means for enabling the apparatus to be manipulated in the water and on the land. The apparatus can be beached, and then pulled along the beach with the cage supporting the apparatus in a manner similar to a wheeled vehicle.

United States Patent 1 Mueller FISH AND BAIT TRAP [76] Inventor:WalterF. Mueller, 301 Pon St.,

Ballinger, Tex. 76821 22 Filed: Oct. 24, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 299,916

[52] US. Cl. 43/103 [51] Int. Cl A01k 69/06 [58] Field of Search 43/103,100

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,736,986 3/l956 Goldstein43/103 2,755,594 7/l956 Booth et al. 43/100 Primary Examiner-RobertPeshock Assistant Examiner-Daniel J. Leach Att0rney--Marcus L. Bates1451 July 31,1973

[57] ABSTRACT A floating fish and bait trap assembly having acylindrical cage within which fish may live when trapped therein.

A shelter having spaced floats thereon is superimposed over the cage injournaled relationship therewith to enable the cage to be rotatedrelative to the shelter, and further to protect the cage from theelements.

A yoke is attached to and depends away from the journal means forenabling the apparatus to be manipulated in the water and on the land.The apparatus can be beached, and then pulled along the beach with thecage supporting the apparatus in a manner similar to a wheeled vehicle.

9 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures PAIENIEuJum ms 3.748776 $HEH20F3 FIG. 6FIG. 7 FIG. 8

FIG. 11

[Uifltill MM FISH AND BAIT TRAP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One of themost economical and practical methods of harvesting fish is to utilizean open-work cage having opposed open ends closed by truncated conicalinlet funnels which provide a trap means at each extremity of thecylindrical cage so that when the apparatus is submerged within water,fish swim thereinto where they live until the trap is removed from thewater and the fish removed therefrom.

A major disadvantage of harvesting fish in this manner is the difficultyencountered in removing the cumbersome trap from the water. Sometime agin pole hoist arrangement is employed for lifting the fish containingtrap from the water; however, this expedient necessitates a permanentinstallation of the hoisting apparatus and accordingly prevents placingthe trap out of reach of the hoist mechanism.

Further, this type prior art trap, if released, sinks to the bottomwhere the harvested fish are precluded from contact with the surface ofthe water and accordingly the fish are isolated from their essential airsupply.

Where a trap isprovided with floats and anchored offshore, the partiallysubmerged trap exposes the fish to the deleterious effects of theelements thereby reducing the quality of fishQ It would therefore bedesirable to have made available an apparatus for trapping fish whichovercomes the objections above, and yet includes all of the desirableattributes associated with various apparatus of the above describedtype.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention comprehends a floating fish andbait trap assembly having a cylindrical cage journaled to a shelterwhich is spaced apart and superimposed thereover. A float maintains .theapparatus partially submerged in a body of water, while a yoke enablesthe apparatus to be beached and then pulled along the beach with thecage supporting the remainder of the apparatus in a manner similar to awheeled vehicle.

The cage of the apparatus is provided with spaced end portions whichreinforce the cylinder and at the same time provides means by which aninwardly directed truncated cone can be attached thereto for forming atrap means at either end thereof.

A novel draw works arrangement provides a system for manipulating thetrap into and out of the water for commercial harvesting of fish.

A primary object of the present invention'is to provide a floating fishand bait trap assembly having an improved cage within which fish maylive when trapped therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a floating fish and baittrap assembly which can be moved in low friction relationship relativeto a supporting surface.

A further object of this invention is to provide a draw works system bywhich floating fish traps may be placed within and retrieved from a bodyof water.

A still further object of this invention is to provide improvements infloating fish and bait trap assemblies.

Another and still further object is the provision of improvements ofmethods of harvesting fish with mechanical fish and bait trapassemblies.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a means ofsustaining trapped fish by the provision of a shaded air supply inconjunction with the floating fish and bait trap assembly.

These and various other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading thefollowing detailed description and claims and by referring to theaccompanying drawings.

The above objects are attained in accordance with the present inventionby the provision of a combination of elements which are fabricated in amanner substantially as described in the above abstract and summary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammaticalrepresentation of a crosssection of a part of the earth wherein thepresent invention is disclosed in operative relationship therewith;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the cross-section representation of FIG.1, with the apparatus disclosed in a different operating configura-tion;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1 in some respects and illustrates anotherembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of part of theapparatus seen in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlargedelevational view of part of the apparatus disclosedin FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of part of theapparatus disclosed in FIG 1;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 6; v

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of part of the apparatus disclosed inFIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of part of the apparatusdisclosed in FIG. 9;

FIG. I l is a top plan view of part of the apparatus disclosed in FIG.10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary part crosssectional view taken alongline 12-12 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan view of part of the apparatusdisclosed in FIG. I;

FIG. 14 is a reduced side view of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional representation takenalong line 15-1'5 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of part of the apparatus disclosed inthe foregoing Figures;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1717 of FIG. 16;-

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary elevational view of part of the apparatusdisclosed in FIG. 13;

FIG. 19 is an end view of FIG. 18; and

FIG. 20 schematically discloses in a diagrammatical manner across-sectional view of another embodiment of the apparatus similar tothe disclosure set forth in FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS shore upon which thereis disposed a draw works 17 and a dead man 18.

An endless cable is rove between the draw works and the dead man withthe trap apparatus being interposed in one of the cable lengths so thatone of the resulting lines 19 is slidably received through a guide 20 ofthe apparatus, while the other cable length or line 21 is removablyattached to the depending ends of the yoke at 22.

As seen in FIG. 2, the trap assembly has been beached .with thecylindrical cage having the lowermost portion thereof in contact with asupporting surface so that the cylindrical cage makes rolling contact inlow friction engagement with the ground.

In FIGS. 3-5, there is disclosed a gantry 25 having a line 26 rovetherethrough so that a helicopter 27 can lower the apparatus into a bodyof water and later retrieve the apparatus by engaging the gantry withthe grappling hook assembly 28.

The grappling hook has a pulley at the upper end thereof, with the hookbeing attached to a sleeve 29 which in turn is rigidly affixed to theillustrated three legs. The legs are bundled together at 30 and radiateapart l20 from one another as seen at 31 so as to englzale the formationof a reinforced free end portion at As seen illustrated in FIG. 5, thegantry includes a swivel 33 underlying a pulley 34 so that the lowerterminal end 35 of legs 36 may be attached to the trap assembly.Stiffeners 36' maintain the legs in proper spaced relationship.

As seen in the details of FIGS. 6 and 7, the beforementioned dead man iscomprised of housing 37 which is rigidly affixed to a truss-workcomprised of metal members 38, 39, with the housing enclosing a drum 40about which the aforementioned line 19, 21, is rove. Anchor guide means41 enables a stake to be driven therethrough and into the ground therebysecuring the dead man to the beach.

In FIGS. 8-12, there is disclosed the draw works used in conjunctionwith the trap assembly. As seen in the Figures, a framework 42 forms aportion of the draw works, and includes a collar 43 affixed theretowhich enables a stake to'be set at an angle respective to the ground forsecuring the draw works to the beach in the same described manner setforth in conjunction with the dead man.

A pair of axially aligned adjacent drums 44 each have a longitudinallength defined by the illustrated inwardly angled walls 45, 46, with thedrums being journaled to the framework by any suitable bearing onjournal means 47. Brake means 48, 49, respectively, are slidablyreceived in the illustrated fasteners for engaging handles 50, 51,respectively, of the two drums.

As best seen in FIG. 10, one of the drums has a longitudinal lengthdescribed by the illustrated sloped circumferentially extending wall 52which is attached, as by welding, to the cylinder 52'. End portion 55 ofthe drum is attached to one of the diagrammatically indicated handles51.

The adjacent drum is similarly provided with spaced apart sloped walls54 attached to a cylinder 54' with the end portion 55 being attached toits associate handle 51. Inner shaft member 56 is drilled so that pin 57anchors the drums thereto.

One drum has a circumferentially extending skirt member 58 extending inoverlapping relationship respective of the other drum so that pin 59 canbe placed through the concentrically arranged overlapping coactingportions of the adjacent members of the two adjacent drums, therebyeffectively and selectively locking one drum to the other. It will benoted that inside circumferentially extending wall surface 60 of thehollow shaft is rotatably received about the solid shaft 56 so that whenpin 59 is removed, one drum rotates relative to the solid shaft and tothe other drum.

As best seen in the illustration of FIGS. 11 and 12, thebefore-mentioned pin 59 is received through aperture 60' with theaperture being centrally located relative to lock members 61, 62. Thelock members are fixed to skirt 58 by any convenient means. Aperturedmember 64 underlies skirt 63 and is attached to structure which formspart of drum 45. The reduced diameter end 59' of the pin is capturedbetween the spaced apart members 61, 62. The enlarged portion of the pinpreferably has opposed cars which are received under member 61, 62, sothat the pin can be rotated 90 and lifted free from the assembly.

As seen illustrated in FIGS. 13-19, the floating fish and bait trapassembly 15 preferably has the shelter thereof longitudinally extendedso that opposed terminal ends 66 thereof extend beyond the cylindricalcage when superimposed therabove. The illustrated spaced apart floats inthe form of air tanks preferably are coextensive with the longitudinalopposed edge portions of the shelter. Affixing the tanks in thislocation reinforces the shelter and provides a monocoque structure. Thebeforementioned yoke 22 extends in opposed directions from the apparatusand includes framework 67 which extends about the entire cage, therebyenabling journal means 68 to be affixed to the framework with thelongitudinally extending axial axis of the cage being aligned with thetwo opposed journal means. Reinforcing end pieces 69 are affixed to theopen work metal 70 of the cage, while members have the depending endsthereof attached to member 69. The beforementioned journal means areattached to the intersection 81 of the members, thereby enabling a loadto be transferred from the yoke 22, into the framework, into the journalmeans, into members 80, plate member 69, and thence into the open framework 70, and vice versa.

Door 71 can be slidably opened so as to enable one to retrieve the fishfrom within the cage. The cage includes the beforementioned truncatedconical inlet funnels 72 made of open work metal or plastic whichoptionally includes a metal skirt 73 of limited length attached to themarginal end portion thereof.

As best seen in FIG. 17, the rim 69 is bent as illustrated at 74, 75, toprovide a circumferentially extending reinforcement at 69 to which themarginal circum ferentially extending edge portion of the expanded metal70 can be attached, and which further provides a circumferentiallyextending marginal edge portion 74 to which the largestcircumferentially extending marginal edge portion of the truncated cone72 can be attached thereby providing a rigid structure which is simplein design, self-supporting, and low in cost.

Conveniently arranged about the rim 69 are the illustrated spaced apartfeeders 76 which extend inwardly into the cage for the purpose ofattracting fish and enticing them to enter through the trap means whileat the same time preventing untrapped fish from stealing the bait.

As seen in FIG. 14, the end portion 77 of the shelter preferebly isspaced slightly apart from the yoke 22. If deemed desirable, thisshelter edge portion could be extended into contact with the yoke so asto further reinforce the apparatus; however, such a design expedient isconsidered unnecessary because it is preferred to build the float withsufficient volume to cause the cage to float with less than 25 percentof the free volume thereof being disposed above the surface of thewater. The shelter preferably is attached to the frame by means of theillustrated radiating members 78. If deemed desirable, the shelter couldbe journaled rather than fixed to the yoke, and either choice of designis considered to fall within the comprehension of this invention. Ifdeemed desirable, the interior of the floats can be filled with foamedplastic 79.

The rim 69 of the cage is provided with spokes 80 which may vary innumber, with the spokes intersecting at 81 where they are journaled atlocation 68 so that the entire cage can rotatably support the remainderof the entire apparatus.

In the modification set forth in FIG. 20, the float and shelter 177 isin the form of a hollow member 124 having legs attached thereto andjournaled to a cage 123 by journaled means 168. Members 167, 178,maintain the structure properly spaced apart one from another as in thebefore described manner. The float 124 is a cantilever structurecomprised of spaced apart metal walls, connected together at theperipheral edge portions thereof, or alternatively can be made ofplastic, including foam plastic such as polyurethane or polystyrene, forexample. Of course, where foamed plastic is used there would be nonecessity for the illustrated hollow interior 124.

In operation, the bait is placed within the feeders 76, after which theassembly is rolled along the beach in the illustrated manner FIG. 2until it is afloat within a body of water 16. This translocation of theassembly can be accomplished be either adding a foot arm onto the yoke22 and manually pushing the empty assembly into the body of water, oralternatively utilizing the method set forth in FIGS. 1-3.

When it is deemed that sufficient fish are caught within the cage, theassembly is retrieved by pulling it from the body of water until thecage contacts the beach, and thereafter the apparatus is pulled by theyoke causing the cage to make rolling contact with the ground as thelowermost portion of the cage rollingly supports the entire assembly.This sequence of events is referred to herein as "beaching. Door 71 isopened,

the fish removed therefrom, and the apparatus returned to service.

The ends of lines 19, 21, can each be rove about winches 45, 46 inopposite directions of rotation so as to enable the two drums to belocked together, thereby enabling either handle 50 or 51 to cause thedrums to rotate whereupon the assembly is moved into the body of water.When it is desired to beach the apparatus the handle is rotated in theopposite direction. Should the line become taut or unduly slack then pin59 can be removed from the drums so as to enable either of the winchesto individually control the tension in either of the lines 19 or 21.

I claim:

1. In a floating fish and bait trap assembly having a cylindrical cagewithin which fish may live when trapped therein, the improvementcomprising:

a shelter spaced from and superimposed over said cage, journal meansaffixed to the longitudinal axis of said cage and to said shelter toenable said cage to be rotated relative to said shelter;

said shelter having spaced apart longitudinally extending dependingedges which terminate short of the lowermost portion of the cage so thatthe lowermost portion of the cage bottom supports the apparatus when theapparatus is placed upon a supporting surface; said shelter including afloat affixed thereto for imparting sufficient buoyancy into theassembly so that part of said cage is supported above the water linewhen the assembly is floating in water;

a yoke means connected to said journal means for forcing said assemblyto move laterally of the longitudinal axis of the cage; so that a linecan be attached to said yoke, and the apparatus beached and then pulledalong the beach with the cage supporting the apparatus as the cagecontacts the ground with a rolling motion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shelter is arcuate in minorcross-section and longitudinally extends in overlapping relationshiprelative to the cage.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said yoke means includes spacedmembers which depend in opposed relationship from the assembly so that aline can be attached to either yoke and the assembly moved in either oftwo opposed directions.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said yoke means depends in opposedrelationship from the assembly so that a line can be attached to eitherdepending portion of the yoke means, to enable the assembly to be movedin either of two opposed directions;

a draw works, a dead man spaced from said draw works, an endless cablerove between said draw works and dead man, said apparatus beinginterposed in one length of said cable with the yokes being connected toform a continuation of the endless cable, so that the draw works can beused to move the trap assembey along the length of the enless cable.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said draw works include spaced drumsrotatably received on a common axis; means for selectively rotatingeither drum; means for selectively locking said drums together so thatthey rotate as s single unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 and further including break means by whicheither said drum can be selectively locked.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including a gantry overlyingsaid apparatus; a pulley in the apex of said gantry so that theapparatus can be lowered into the water by said pulley and later onretrieved by engaging the legs of said gantry with a grappling hook.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shelter is comprised of anarcuate hollow member so as to form said float.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said float includes elongatedchambers affixed to the marginal longitudinally extending edge portionsof said shelter.

1. In a floating fish and bait trap assembly having a cylindrical cagewithin which fish may live when trapped therein, the improvementcomprising: a shelter spaced from and superimposed over said cage,journal means affixed to the longitudinal axis of said cage and to saidshelter to enable said cage to be rotated relative to said shelter; saidshelter having spaced apart longitudinally extending depending edgeswhich terminate short of the lowermost portion of the cage so that thelowermost portion of the cage bottom supports the apparatus when theapparatus is placed upon a supporting surface; said shelter including afloat affixed thereto for imparting sufficient buoyancy into theassembly so that part of said cage is supported above the water linewhen the assembly is floating in water; a yoke means connected to saidjournal means for forcing said assembly to move laterally of thelongitudinal axis of the cage; so that a line can be attached to saidyoke, and the apparatus beached and then pulled along the beach with thecage supporting the apparatus as the cage contacts the ground with arolling motion.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shelter isarcuate in minor cross-section and longitudinally extends in overlappingrelationship relative to the cage.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinsaid yoke means includes spaced members which depend in opposedrelationship from the assembly so that a line can be attached to eitheryoke and the assembly moved in either of two opposed directions.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein said yoke means depends in opposedrelationship from the assembly so that a line can be attached to eitherdepending portion of the yoke means, to enable the assembly to be movedin either of two opposed directions; a draw works, a dead man spacedfrom said draw works, an endless cable rove between said draw works anddead man, said apparatus being interposed in one length of said cablewith the yokes being connected to form a continuation of the endlesscable, so that the draw works can be used to move the trap assembeyalong the length of the enless cable.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4wherein said draw works include spaced drums rotatably received on acommon axis; means for selectively rotating either drum; means forselectively locking said drums together so that they rotate as s singleunit.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 and further including break means bywhicH either said drum can be selectively locked.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 1 and further including a gantry overlying said apparatus; apulley in the apex of said gantry so that the apparatus can be loweredinto the water by said pulley and later on retrieved by engaging thelegs of said gantry with a grappling hook.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said shelter is comprised of an arcuate hollow member so as toform said float.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said float includeselongated chambers affixed to the marginal longitudinally extending edgeportions of said shelter.